Warner’s Distillery and industry support group Hospo For Life have launched #HospoHappyHour, a daily broadcast to support the mental health and wellbeing of hospitality workers. The first episode will be broadcast on the Hospo for Life Facebook page today at 5pm AEST.
The series will run every weekday from today, Monday 20 April, until at least the end of May. It is hosted by Hospo For Life founder, chef Liam Crawley, and each episode will include wellbeing specialists and psychologists from Altius Group, as well as industry guests, to discuss a different COVID19-related challenge. The episodes are free and open to anyone in the hospitality industry that has been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
This week’s program includes discussions on topics such as managing stress, and coping with social distancing, and will features the likes of Sven Almenning, MD of the Speakeasy Group, and Bars and Clubs’ own Andy Young as guests.
Viewers can ask questions anonymously and for those with more serious concerns or issues, Hospo for Life can offer a free one-on-one session with a professional psychologist, and help in securing a referral for further sessions, all currently bulk-billed to ensure no out of pocket expenses for hard hit Aussie hospitality workers.
To fund the episodes, Warner’s will donate five dollars from every bottle of Warner’s Rhubarb Gin or Warner’s London Dry Gin sold through Dan Murphys during the April-May lock-down.
As managing director of a nationwide catering, recruitment and consulting firm, Crawley knows firsthand the mental tumoil of putting a business into hibernation, and the impact that has on those staff who have found themselves very suddenly out of work. And as a longstanding advocate of mental health in the industry, he was pleased to partner with Warner’s to create this support initiative for workers who are struggling with their new situation.
“We welcome this partnership with Warner’s Gin with open arms. It’s really special to be able to kickstart #HospoHappyHour, a series that can inspire and support our hospitality industry during the virus outbreak,” stated Crawley.
“With many Australians having lost their businesses and jobs at this time, the aim of this series is to make a positive impact on hospo workers’ lives to enable them to see past this current crisis and look forward to the future.”
Warner’s Founders Tom and Tina Warner added: “The Warner’s motto is ‘United in Spirit’, and that core message has never felt more apt than right now. Whether it be distilling and creating hand sanitiser for the health service in the UK; or helping Hospo For Life deliver their amazing package of wellbeing and personal development to a wider audience of hospos in Australia; we want to do whatever we can to help us all re-emerge from lockdown that little bit stronger and more united. We have found a real ‘United in Spirit’ soulmate in Hospo For Life, and we are delighted that we can support Liam and Altius in bringing the #HospoHappyHour initiative to life.”
This week’s programme is as follows:
Monday 20 April: ‘Movement in a restricted world – why is it more important than ever?’ with special guest Derick Borean, CEO and Founder of the Altius Group
Tuesday 21 April: ‘ Social distancing, isolation and health – the difference between loneliness and being alone’ with special guest Sven Almenning, MD of Speakeasy Group and founder of the Ananas training and management platform
Wednesday 22 April: ‘Managing stress in difficult times and in the face of adversity’ with special guest Andy Young, Editor of Bars and Clubs and TheShout.
Thursday April 23rd: ‘Food and mood – how does what you eat effect how you feel?’ with special guest Chef Adam Moore from Studio 10 and beyond
Friday 24 April: ‘The quest for happy – is the endless pursuit of feeling happy making us miserable?’ with special guest from the UK, Tom Warner (pictured in lead image), founder and distiller from Warner’s Gin
The episodes will run weekdays from April 20th at 5pm AEST on the Hospo For Life Facebook page, and will be available afterwards on all of its social media. Anyone wanting to make a much-needed donation or set up a free counselling session can contact Liam on info@hospoforlife.com.au.
